Work Conditions

GIS technicians work primarily indoors on computers. However, mapping technicians must sometimes conduct research by using resources such as survey maps and legal documents to verify property lines and to obtain information needed for mapping. This task may require traveling to storage sites housing these legal documents, such as county courthouses or lawyers’ offices.

Employment Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of all GIS technicians is expected to grow 3 to 9 percent between 2010 and 2020, slower than the average for all occupations.